There are many ways that people can make the world better for everyone. But sometimes we don’t realize just how much of an impact our voices can have. On Tuesday, April 19, that’s what Jim Keady wanted UMPI students and faculty to know. Keady was the University Day Distinguished Lecturer. For almost 20 years, Keady has stood up against shoe company Nike. He defends the human rights of Nike’s overseas factory workers.

Have you been to Gentle Hall this semester? Many people at UMPI would say yes. Gentle Hall is always filled with people. Students and employees release stress and train their bodies there. Working out should be a good way to lead you to be health.

University Day is a great platform for students to share their own research and findings with the public. As a music amateur, performing Chinese music to Americans on University Day is a good chance to introduce Chinese culture.

The Pullen art gallery was filled with excitement as Melissa Lizotte stood at the front of the room waiting to present. Professor Deborah Hodgkins stood in the doorway to greet all in attendance. This particular University Day presentation was called “Women Redefining Culture,” a topic that presenter Lizzotte hoped to explore in front of the group. Lizotte stood quietly at the front of the room as conversations buzzed. Members of the audience waited patiently for the clock to turn to 2:15 p.m. and for the presentation to begin.

Some people who have never been a waiter or waitress think that tips are just extra money for the employee. Wrong. All employees get paid hourly, but normally, it’s only up to $4 an hour to start. That is not a living wage. But it’s not possible for wait staff to live off tips, either.

People would rather donate their money toward lost kittens and small children than a female inmate. Donating to young cats and children is fine, but who’s going to help the female inmates? The Honors Women and Crime course here at UMPI presented at University Day on their project to help out those female inmates. Partnering up with the Hope and Justice Project and employee Chelsie Higgins who is a former UMPI student, the students are putting together exit packages for when women are released from the Houlton jail.

For a country that is known for its diversity, many Americans actually know little about the educational systems outside of the United States. For those who live in a rural town such as Presque Isle, this is even truer. Although it may not have a direct effect on our lives, learning about education in other countries helps to better understand and improve our own education in the U.S.

Universities have been around for a long time. Harvard University was founded in 1636 and claims to be the “oldest institution of higher education in the United States.” Ever since that time, the ways students utilize universities and colleges have changed drastically.

One-thousand one-hundred and thirty-four people died and virtually no one talked about it. Why? Because it was in a place far away and involved an issue no one likes to talk about. One-thousand one-hundred and thirty-four people died in a sweatshop.